Tag Archive for: featured-2

Swift Graces InStyle

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InStyle’s latest cover girl, Taylor Swift talks about love, success and life at home and on the road in the mag’s June issue which hits newsstands May 20. Here’s some excerpts from her interview…
On finding love:
“There are no rules when it comes to love. I just try to let love surprise me because you never know who you’re going to fall in love with. You never know who’s going to come into your life—and for me, when I picture the person I want to end up with, I don’t think about what their career is, or what they look like. I picture the feeling I get when I’m with them.”
On having her own home:
“First I fell in love with baking, then I fell in love with cooking, and then I got my own place—and I was doing it for my friends all the time.”
On her biggest fear:
“I’m most scared by the thought of prolonged, perpetual unhappiness, and of unfulfillment. I have this really high priority on happiness and finding something to be happy about. It’s not that I live in a delusional fantasy where I’m just smiling every day. I definitely feel pain, but there is also this need to be grateful for what I’ve been given.”
On the future:
“I have this really high priority on happiness and finding something to be happy about.”
 

Stroud Launches R&J Records, Hires McFadden

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James Stroud


James Stroud has announced the launch of R&J Records with partner Rick Carter of Gulport, MS. The same executive team from Stroudavarious Records will run the new imprint. According to a press release, the announcement follows a series of negotiations marking the end of Stroud’s relationship with Stroudavarious and all related entities including Country Crossing and BamaJam Records.
As a result, previous Stroudavarious artists Aaron Lewis, LoCash Cowboys, Margaret Durante, Andy Gibson, Rob Lane and Alexa Carter will immediately move to the R&J Records roster with their current projects. Lewis and Durante currently have active radio singles, while LoCash Cowboys and Gibson are both preparing for the release of their new singles.

Tim McFadden


With the launch of R&J, Stroud and label Pres. Bill Catino have hired industry veteran Tim McFadden to take over the label’s national promotion duties.
“Tim is a true record veteran in every sense,” says Stroud.  “His experience has run the gamut from promotion to A&R to management and beyond.  He was my Head of Promotion at Giant Records and I am thrilled to be working with him again.  His work ethic and professionalism is consistent with everyone on this team.”
“Tim has maintained his strong relationships with key programmers and consultants over the years,” adds Catino. “That will be a tremendous asset in building this promotion team to the expectations that James and I envisioned when we first formed the label. Tim will play an integral role in the future success at R&J.”
Staff emails will now be firstname@randjrecords.com. The office is currently located at 29 Music Sq. E., but will be moving to a new location over the summer.
(For a recent article about Stroud and Aaron Lewis click here)

Alabama Unites Fellow Stars For "Bama Rising"

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Country band Alabama today (5/17) announced plans for “BAMA RISING: A Benefit Concert for Alabama Tornado Recovery,” presented by Verizon. The June 14 concert at Birmingham’s BJCC Arena will feature performances by the superstar band as well as Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Sheryl Crow, Rodney Atkins, Dierks Bentley, Bo Bice, Luke Bryan, Taylor Hicks, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, David Nail, Jake Owen, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker and Ashton Shepherd. Confirmed special guests include radio personality and former University of Alabama football star and NFL player Jay Barker.
Alabama’s Randy Owen, speaking on behalf of the group, says, “My hope is that this will bring happiness and help to my fellow citizens in Alabama. I believe it’s extremely important that we do this benefit, and I want everyone in the state to feel like they are part of it. I hope we all can pull together to help get through the worst natural disaster I’ve ever seen in Alabama. I appreciate my friends in country music, everyone that’s been involved, and anyone that’s helped in any way.”
The Bama Rising Fund has been established at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham to support long-term recovery statewide in the wake of the April 2011 tornadoes that devastated Alabama.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public this Friday, May 20, at 11:00AM CST at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices will range from $25 to $150. VIP packages will also be available. Visit www.bamarising.org for more details. Bama Rising is presented by Red Mountain Entertainment and AEG Live/The Messina Group. Corporate sponsors include Verizon, Bravado, Zeekee Interactive, Bill Young Productions, Tour Design and Ticketmaster.
For information on becoming a corporate sponsor to support relief efforts, contact Jay Wilson at Red Mountain Entertainment – 205.585.2531 or jay@redmountainentertainment.com.

Curb Records Sues Tim McGraw

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Curb Records has filed suit against Tim McGraw claiming breach-of-contract, reports Billboard.biz. According to documents obtained by Billboard, Curb alleges that the tracks on McGraw’s upcoming Emotional Traffic album were recorded outside of a contractually designated time period.
Under the agreement the album should have been recorded “no earlier than 12 months and no later than 18 months” following the delivery of the previous album. His previous release, Southern Voice, hit streets in 2009.
Billboard reports that the suit seeks undisclosed damages, a sixth “option period” record, and “injunctive relief” preventing him from entering another recording contract.
This is the official statement from McGraw’s spokesperson:

Sadly, after a twenty year relationship which has provided unprecedented success for both parties, Curb Records has chosen to end its accord with Tim McGraw by filing suit against him.
Tim McGraw delivered his new album, Emotional Traffic, to Curb in the fall of 2010. The label is holding the album hostage from country music fans in an attempt to force Tim McGraw to serve perpetually under a contract that he has already fully and faithfully completed. The only song Curb has released from the album, “Felt Good on My Lips,” was a multi-week #1 hit.
Although Curb has not released the album, Tim McGraw has decided to perform new songs from Emotional Traffic on his current tour because he feels it is one of his best ever.
Most importantly, Tim McGraw wants to thank his fans for their continued support in his efforts to release new and exciting music.

More here.

John Rich Eyes Win on "The Celebrity Apprentice"

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John Rich has made it to the final two contestants on The Celebrity Apprentice, and many observers say he is headed for the win. With perfectly orchestrated timing, he also has two new music releases out today (5/17), and a slew of promotional TV appearances this week. As the show’s season comes to an end, he will be visiting The View, the Today show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight.
The Celebrity Apprentice season finale airs Sun., May 22 on NBC, where Rich is competing against actress Marlee Matlin. The show pits celebs against each other to raise money for charity and Rich is working on behalf of St. Jude.
One of his new Six Pak albums also supports the research hospital. For The Kids pays tribute to the families and friends of St. Jude with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the cause.
Warner Bros. Records is also releasing the more commercial Six Pak, Rich Rocks, featuring lead single “Country Done Come To Town.” Guests on the offering include Kid Rock, Hank Williams Jr. and Lil Jon.
Rich has also re-teamed with former Big & Rich bandmate Big Kenny for a tour and new single, “Fake ID.”

Triple 8 Management Expands

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There has been recent expansion at Triple 8 Management, which handles the careers of Eli Young Band, Jack Ingram, Joe Nichols, and Kevin Fowler.
Owner George Couri announced today (5/16) the addition of two employees as well as several in-house promotions, for a total of eight full-time team members.
Jenn Poppe has joined the company as Day-to-Day Manager for Eli Young Band and Joe Nichols. Poppe previously enjoyed an eight-year stint at GHM/Red Light Management where she worked with artists such as Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar, and The Warren Brothers. Reach her at jennpoppe@triple8mgmt.com.
Karen McGuire has been hired as Director of Radio Promotions. Her experience is in regional radio promotions, most recently with Universal South, and previously with Curb Records for 16 years. She can be contacted at karen@triple8mgmt.com.
Promotions include Larry Murray rising to lead the New Media and Tour Marketing department. He will be supported by Jenn Adams who has been in that department since 2009.
Other staffers include Sarah Blincoe, Day-to-Day-Manager for Jack Ingram and Kevin Fowler; Merchandising head Kelly Vermillion; and Office Coordinator Haley Elander.
Triple 8 can be reached at (512) 444-7600 or www.triple8mgmt.com.

AMA Visits Big Apple For Announcement

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The Americana Music Association will present this year’s Honors & Awards Nominee announcement at an invitation only media event in New York City on May 23rd. The nominees are usually announced in Nashville, but according to AMA Executive Director Jed Hilly, “With all the critical acclaim that we have garnered in recent years, we felt that our next move was to reach out to National media to focus more spotlight on the genre and community. Mayor Karl Dean has confirmed to attend and speak as have some key members of our artistic community including Levon Helm (who is bringing his Dirt Farmer quartet), Rosanne Cash, Jim Lauderdale and The Civil Wars, just to name a few.” Helping to make the New York announcement possible are Gibson, BMI and Nissan.

However, the AMA’s Fall event will take place in Nashville as usual. “We have no plans to move,” says Hilly. “Our Festival, Conference and Awards show will be here in Music City, where it belongs, the week of October 12-15.”

Eye On Idol (5/13/11)

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Well, that was a surprise, wasn’t it?
I feel confident saying that very few people saw last night’s (5/12) American Idol elimination of James Durbin coming. Especially not James. He gave typically splendid performances of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and Leiber/Stoller’s “Love Potion No. 9” on Wednesday (5/11) that were roundly praised by the judges, adding to his incredible season-long momentum.
In fact, he was the only one of the remaining four this week who hadn’t been in the bottom vote-getters a single time. I figured he would sail right on to the finale, scoop up a record deal regardless if he won or lost and carve out a decent career playing his endearing brand of pop metal. And maybe he still will–he’ll just get to do it a little sooner than expected.
But that’s been one of the exciting things about this season of Idol: it’s anything but predictable. People who I figured would last deep into the competition have exited very early (Pia Toscano), and people who I swore would be toast early on have proven themselves to be worthy competitors (Hayley Reinhart).
That means the final three are Hayley, Scotty McCreery, and Lauren Alaina, which all but guarantees a country singer the win.
Follow me on this one: both Scotty and Lauren are undoubtedly Nashville-bound after the show. There’s the possibility that we end up with an all-country finale, and I’ll hazard a guess that Scotty would come out victorious in that matchup. Either way, it’s a win for Nashville. Maybe we even get a feisty “Jackson” style duet out of the deal.
But here’s the more likely reality show scenario. There’s a good chance Scotty and Lauren are currently splitting the country vote, which actually might give Hayley the edge to beat one of them and get into the finale. At which point all the country voters will put their differences aside and rally around whoever is left, completely obliterating Hayley.
In theory, anyway. There’s still a chance I may have to eat my words two weeks from now.

Legal Aid Hosts Music Row Breakfast

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(L-R) Andrew Kintz and Bryan Bolton, SunTrust Bank


The Legal Aid Society hosted its 2nd Annual Music Row breakfast on May 25 at Sunset Grill. The gathering is intended to facilitate a time for socializing and hearing about some of the organization’s work. The Legal Aid Society has provided free civil legal services to families with nowhere else to turn. Sponsors for the breakfast included Avenue Bank, Burr & Forman, KraftCPAs, Loeb & Loeb, Milom Joyce Horsnell Crow PLC and SunTrust.

Top-Paula Barnes, Burr & Forman LLP; Kevin Doherty, Burr & Forman LLP; Below-Craig Hayes, Shackelford Zumwalt & Hayes; Becky Harrell, KraftCPAs PLLC


The event host committee included Vic Alexander, Josh Brackin, Jeff Bradford, John Briggs, Dorothy Campbell, Kevin Doherty, Tim DuBois, Chris Farren, Craig Hayes, Kyle Lehning, Steve Markland, Mike Milom, Robert K. Oermann, Kerry O’Neil, Stacey Schlitz, Thom Schuyler, Bob Sullivan and Sharon Reavis Woodson.
Legal Aid Society is a private, non-profit organization that provides free legal services to people with low income. They do not take criminal cases only civil cases – cases where you yourself will not be sent to jail.
LAS  has eight offices that serve 48 Tennessee counties. Its offices are in Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge and Tullahoma. Information about the organization’s financials and programs can be found here
 

ANR Signs Morgan; Whitley Releases Single

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ANR Records CEO Rick Stevens (Artist Network Records) announces the signing of country music star, Lorrie Morgan. “We are thrilled to add Lorrie to our roster and look forward to doing many projects with her,” he said.
Lorrie Morgan has had fourteen top-ten hits, twelve albums and four female vocalist of the year awards. Her upcoming touring stops include performances with Grammy-winning country star Pam Tillis.

Front Row (L-R): Tony Conway, Tony Conway Entertainment; Lorrie Morgan; Lisa Wysocky, president, ANR Records; Back Row (L-R): Rick Stevens, CEO, ANR Records; James Solomon, Sr. Director of Special Promotions, ANR Records; David Vercruysse, COO, ANR Records

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Jesse Keith Whitley, the son of Lorrie Morgan and the late Keith Whitley, and grandson of Grand Ole Opry star George Morgan, released his debut single, “Kentucky Thunder”, to radio on May 9th.
Produced by James Stroud, the 6-pack also includes “Where Would I Be,” a song Jesse co-wrote with Jon Randall, as well as, a remake of “Don’t Close Your Eyes.”
Ironically, May 9th marked the 22nd anniversary of Keith Whitley’s passing at the age of 33. Jesse was just shy of his second birthday when he lost his famous father. Although not planned, the release date worked out to be a special coincidence. Jesse has been touring with his mother and recently appeared at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony, accepting the honor on behalf of his late father.
“Kentucky Thunder” is available from Octabrook Records and the new single is available on iTunes.